Physicker and poison

[phiwum]

Does the physicker skill reduce damage from poisons? Not clear to me if these are "wounds".

Thanks.

[Terquem]

As the GM, I would rule yes - and I would say this because the words "wounds" and "damage" are not specifically defined in the list of terms, therefore the GM should be able to determine what wounds and damage are for their game. Specifically sighting that the concept of "damage" is itself nebulous and a game element that should, in my opinion, be flexible.

[MikMod]

Physiker is good, but I'd like to see naturalist talents or even alchemy depending on the kind of poison.

[JimmyPlenty]

I certainly agree with naturalist and alchemy involved.

Proposal-ish

Treating with physicker or naturist roll 4/IQ or with alchemy at 3/IQ. Success stops lingering effects and is only way to recover ST from poison other than rest or magical healing.

[hcobb]

Note that if you get stung a dozen times in one combat all your Master Physickers can heal is three points total, so don't leave home without a goblin witch if you want to live.

[JohnPaulB]

Originally Posted by JimmyPlenty

I certainly agree with naturalist and alchemy involved.

Proposal-ish

Treating with physicker or naturist roll 4/IQ or with alchemy at 3/IQ. Success stops lingering effects and is only way to recover ST from poison other than rest or magical healing.

I like the lingering effects preventing Recover ST.

I suggested a precursor to Naturalist: The Herbalist. They might know what purgative or emetic type plants to use.

http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread...ight=herbalist

[QUOTE=JohnPaulB;2345678]

IQ 9
Herbalist (1): An Herbalist is familiar with the affects that plants can have on the body, soul and mind. Herbalist deals with culinary herbs (& spices) or therapeutic herbs. Grows herbs in her garden or knows where to find them (3d6 vs IQ once per hour to locate.*) Can make non-magical remedies from freshly cut herbs (lasts 3 days).

Naturalist costs (1) if you already have Herbalist.

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by JohnPaulB

I like the lingering effects preventing Recover ST.

That's a pretty interesting suggestion. Until the poison has been purged from one's system, he can't recover from its effects.

I'd probably use that as a particular poison effect rather than something that applies to all poisons.

[David Bofinger]

Originally Posted by phiwum

Does the physicker skill reduce damage from poisons? Not clear to me if these are "wounds".

I like to allow it. I figure if a human body's been mistreated it's almost always better off if it gets competent first aid than if it doesn't, regardless of the exact nature of the mistreatment.

I'd probably allow a Chemist to act as a Physicker for this purpose, or a Physicker+Chemist to act as a Master Physicker. I'd allow a Naturalist to forage for local flora to partially substitute for a physicker's kit but I wouldn't give a bonus above having a physicker's kit.

[Shadekeep]

Originally Posted by phiwum

Does the physicker skill reduce damage from poisons? Not clear to me if these are "wounds".

I'd allow it, but there's a pretty big scope for poisons. See the Hexagram #5 article on the subject, it adds a more tiered system of treatments than just Universal Antidote. I would suspect that physickers could probably create some of the Antitoxins, and naturalists could make or harvest a good number of the Antivenoms. But regardless I'd say that part of a physicker's remit is dealing with toxins and thus they should be able to alleviate their effects at least in part.

[phiwum]

I find it somewhat interesting that a lot of folks have suggested Naturalist talent could play a role in either producing antivenin or healing poison damage.

I guess I'd see the latter somewhat plausible when it comes to snake bites, but not for, say, the effects of a simple poison bomb (even though it comes from snake venom). Sucking poison out of a wound is something a naturalist can do. That's a pretty good idea.

Not sure how antivenin works, but if it takes a chemist to make a poison, I'd lean to having a chemist making antivenin.

Anyway, lots of good and interesting replies. For now, I'll accept that Physicker can heal two points of poison damage (which is how I played it when it came up anyway). I'll think about how skills like naturalist or chemist (or alchemist) might help too.